Nations League | League D

Nov 18, 2024 at 7.45pm UK

Rheinpark Stadion

Liechtensteinvs.San Marino

Match preview

Liechtenstein played out a 0-0 draw with Gibraltar on 13 October in their last game of the tournament. They had 60% possession but only managed four shots, with just one coming from inside the penalty area.

The home team are currently ranked 200th in the FIFA standings and lost 2-0 to Malta (ranked 163rd) in their most recent match on 14 November.

Konrad Funfstuck has been in charge of the national side since June 2023 and has only won once in 17 games. His first nine games ended in defeat, and his players only scored one goal in that period.

It's worth mentioning that Funfstuck's team have drawn four and won one of their last eight games, including two draws and one win in their last four.

Liechtenstein drew 0-0 with Gibraltar in their last home match and beat Hong Kong 1-0 in their previous game on 10 October. However, they did lose the previous 16 games at Rheinpark Stadion.

Meanwhile, the visitors managed to earn a point against Gibraltar on Friday, drawing 1-1 thanks to a late equaliser from Nicola Nanni. He levelled the scoreline and cancelled out Gibraltar's opener from the 11th minute.

Hand it to San Marino, who played a great game against their opponents. They had 59% possession and created four big chances, which is more than their rivals managed to do.

This was only the fourth time in 17 Nations League games that San Marino managed to avoid defeat. It was the second time in their last three matches in the competition that they at least picked up some points.

Boss Roberto Cevoli's side beat Liechtenstein 1-0 on 5 September, and it was their first ever competitive win, as well as their first win in any match since July 2014 (a hybrid friendly against Italian minnows Bellaria Igea Marina).

Cevoli's team have never managed to win an away fixture, and they've lost 19 of their last 20 games on the road.

Recent Performance

Liechtenstein Nations League form:LDD

Liechtenstein form (all competitions):DLDWDL

San Marino Nations League form:WLD

San Marino form (all competitions):LWLLLD

Team News

It looks like Liechtenstein goalkeeper Benjamin Buchel will be picked for the starting line-up. He could play behind a back three of Martin Marxer, Lars Traber and Maximilian Goppel.

Midfielder Simon Luchinger might be joined in the centre of the pitch by Marcel Buchel and Aron Sele, while Ferhat Saglam and Dennis Salanovic are in the running to start up front.

It looks like San Marino will have centre-backs Michele Cevoli and Dante Rossi in front of goalkeeper Edoardo Colombo.

It looks like Roberto Cevoli will field a midfield three of Matteo Valli Casadei, Alessandro Golinucci and Lorenzo Lazzari, with Golinucci likely to be the deepest of the three.

It looks like wide players Filippo Berardi and Andrea Contadini will be on the wings, with striker Nicola Nanni up front.

Possible starting lineup

Liechtenstein possible starting lineup:

Buchel; Marxer, Traber, Goppel; Hasler, Luchinger, Buchel, Sele, Kindle; Saglam, Salanovic

San Marino possible starting lineup:

Colombo; Benvenuti, Cevoli, Rossi, Benvenuti; Casadei, Golinucci, Lazzari; Berardi, Nanni, Contadini